Rate relief and projects galore for Isaac ratepayers

EXCLUSIVE: More than a third of Isaac Regional Council ratepayers will see their rates bill drop this financial year, after the council unanimously voted through a $73million budget that has a "genuine appreciation” for cost-of-living pressures.

It comes as a group of dissenting Mackay ratepayers, frustrated by the size of their rates bills, continues their push to secede and move into the Isaac shire, with a community meeting planned for Sunday night.

Mayor Anne Baker said the council has adopted a zero per cent increase in the general rate for residential and rural properties, as well as properties under the commercial/ industrial classification.

"It's a genuine intent from council to factor in the economic situation that was seen in the past and a genuine appreciation for the cost of living pressures,” she said.

"We have worked hard to frame a budget which we believe reflects the best interests of the communities of our region and this is a win for local households,” she said.

Meanwhile, rates for properties that fall under the resource sector category - including mine sites and barracks - will increase by 5.1 per cent. These bills are footed by mining companies.

Cr Baker said council's rating strategy was based on land valuations for residential homes falling 40 per cent, while land valuations of mine sites increased 20 per cent on the back of a healthy resources industry and the resulting expansion of the workforce.

Of the council's 11,000 rateable properties, 4000 properties would receive a decrease in their rating outcomes compared to last year.

"Across the board, the increase in overall rates and utility charges is just 1.7 per cent for 2018/19, an outcome which is below the present Consumer Price Index,” she said.

Cr Baker also revealed her council has been invited by residents of Sarina Range to discuss moving the local government boundary.

"We have been invited to a meeting by that community,” she said. "We're more than open to having discussion with the residents and Mackay Regional Council... but to be really clear, however, any boundary change is a decision for the State Government.”

The renewed move to jump councils was sparked by the recent collapse of Mackay Regional Council's budget, centred around opposition to a rates banding system that would have brought some relief to rural landholders. The banding system was an idea borne out of a meeting between the same group of residents and Mackay Regional Council in November last year.

The Electoral Commission of Queensland, the governing body for electoral boundaries, said any discussion around redistribution of borders would need to come via a formal application from the Minister for Local Government.

Cr Baker said the $72.57million budget, of which $39million is state and federal government money, will go toward 184 capital works projects from the "outback to the coast”. This includes $39.85million for roads and drainage, $10million for water infrastructure, $3.95million for community facilities and $925,000 for parks and recreation.